“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go.”

Question?

Have you ever written down what you want to achieve tomorrow, next week, next month or year?

J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the Lord Of The Rings books once said:

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Psalm 5:3 AMPC

“In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].”

Psalm 5:3 NIV

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

2. Determine if it’s what God wants.

What you think determines how you act.

Philippians 2:5 CEV

“And think the same way that Christ Jesus thought.”

Hebrews 4:12 KJV

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

3 John 2 KJV

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

Joshua 1:8 KJV

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

2 Corinthians 2:14 CEV

“I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.”

Proverbs 16:3 NLT

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Psalm 20:4 NLT

“May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.”

Somebody once said:

“When God throws something your way, catch it.”

2 Corinthians 5:9 TLB

“So our aim is to please him always in everything we do, whether we are here in this body or away from this body and with him in heaven.”

3. Your aptitude, altitude and attitude will determine your success.

Zig Ziglar once said:

“It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.”

“If you can dream it, then you can achieve it.”

“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

Here is the Herring paraphrase of that quote:

“It’s not your aptitude that determines your altitude but it’s your attitude that makes you somebody.”

Booker T. Washington once said:

“The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.”

Daniel 1:4 TNIV

“Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.”

Philippians 2:5 NLT

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

4. Set your priorities.

Stephen Covey, the author of 7 Habits For Highly Effective People once said:

“The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Covey also said:

“Keep the main thing, the main thing.”

Matthew 6:33 AMPC

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

Matthew 6:33 KJV

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

1 Kings 22:5 AMPC

“But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray you, for the word of the Lord today.”

5. Protect Your Mind.

Proverbs 4:23 NCV

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.”

First, 1 John 1:9 AMPC

“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].”

Second, Isaiah 43:25 AMPC

“I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

Personalize.

“I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels <<Your Name>>’s transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember <<Your Name>> sins.”

6. Guard Your Heart.

Proverbs 4:23 KJV

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”